Golfers flock to Stettler Golf Club once course opens

With social distancing restrictions easing across the province, Stettler area residents can now hit the links.

The Stettler Golf Club opened its course last weekend and has seen a steady flow of players. The course had such an influx of players, that there were no tee-times available between 9:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on May 13th.

Currently the course is booking tee-times in 15-minute intervals, and walk-ons are not being accepted at this time.

While memberships are down for 2020, the course reports that quite a number of 10-punch passes have been sold until players know what’s going on with the government restrictions.

“If they decide to buy a membership, we subtract the cost of the 10-pass from the membership,” said course manager Cathy Mailer.

One boost to the Club this year is an increase in the number of junior players.

“There are lots of kids golfing this year because they can’t play ball or soccer,” said Mailer.

The course plans to open their dining room and patio for meal service as government restrictions ease on May 14th.

Under the guidelines of phase one of reopening, the dining room and the patio will be at 50 per cent capacity, and there are increased sanitation precautions all over the course.

In addition, all players are required to continue following the social distancing guidelines put out by Alberta Health.

Still, even with the increased disinfection procedures and rules set out by the Government of Alberta, the first week of the course being open has been a success.

“It’s better than what I thought it would be,” said Mailer.

“The people that are golfing are just happy to golf. They are also going by all the rules.”